A harrowing photograph of a woman tumbling onto the street while desperately clinging to a moving TCB truck has gone viral, once again thrusting Bangladesh’s persistent economic hardships into the spotlight. The image, taken in Uttara’s Sector 12 Khalpar area on Tuesday, captures the raw desperation of low-income families scrambling for discounted essentials amid high inflation, unemployment, and deepening poverty more than 18 months after the 2024 political upheaval.
The chaos unfolded around noon when a Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) truck arrived to sell Ramadan subsidised commodities. Crowds surged behind the vehicle, leading to disorder in two phases over positioning. As officials attempted to relocate the truck, several peopleโincluding womenโgrabbed onto the back. In the ensuing scramble, two women lost their balance and fell hard onto the road. The truck departed for another location, leaving many in the queue without goods and the fallen women out of sight.
Prothom Alo photographer Dipu Malakar captured the moment. Posted on the newspaper’s Facebook page, the images drew 1.38 lakh reactions and over 8,200 comments by evening. One commenter wrote: “Those who never witness poverty should stand in such a line for a dayโtheir complaints would vanish forever.”
The Human Cost Of Economic Strain
For many, the roughly Tk350 savings from purchasing the full TCB quotaโ2 litres of soybean oil at Tk115 per litre, 2 kg lentils at Tk70 per kg, 1 kg sugar at Tk80, plus chickpeas and datesโjustifies hours in the sun or risky behaviour. Yet supply falls far short: each truck serves only 400 people, while 600โ800 often queue.
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The incident underscores broader woes. Poverty has risen sharply since the August 2024 uprising that ousted the Awami League government. World Bank estimates suggest poverty exceeded 21% in 2025, while PPRC reported nearly 28% by May 2025, with millions more vulnerable.
According to the report, the truck in Uttara-12 was not carrying goods for 400 people, but only for 75. Due to the crisis, the seller took time to deliver the goods and left the location under the pressure of a long queue.
Interim Government’s Controversial Legacy
The BNP-led government, sworn in on February 17, 2026, inherits immense challenges. Its manifesto pledges family cards for 4 crore families, providing Tk2,500 monthly or equivalent goods. Yet public frustration runs deep. These cards will gradually replace the previous Awami League tenureโs social safety schemes.
Critics point to the 18-month interim period under Muhammad Yunus (August 2024โFebruary 2026), where the BNP was a major stakeholder alongside civil society leaders and Jamaat-e-Islami. The Yunus regime suspended or severely disrupted most of the roughly 140 social safety net schemes aimed at the poor, exacerbating hardship. Reports also accuse the interim government advisers, government officials, and the BNP-Jamat-NCP clique of looting public funds, illicit bank borrowing, and covert money printingโactions that worsened the crisis for vulnerable groups.
During the interim government, poverty surged, with millions more falling below the line. No major expansions in worker wages, income inequality reduction, or poverty alleviation occurred, leaving safety nets inadequate. Hundreds of factories were closed due to the economic and fuel crises, leaving millions out of their jobs.
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Economist Selim Raihan of SANEM noted the photo “vividly shows the pressure ordinary people face after over three years of elevated inflation.” He warned the new government: “Public expectations are high. Failure to control inflation could prove costly.”
Market Woes Persist In Ramadan
On Monday, Commerce Minister Khandaker Abdul Muktadir appealed to traders: “In this holy month, please refrain from charging extraโdo not add to people’s suffering.” He vowed action against price manipulators. Yet vendors in multiple markets insist seasonal hikes are routine. Lemons, chilies, tomatoes, and poultry saw sharp spikes early in Ramadan before partial easing, often attributed to profiteering rather than shortages.
Consumer rights advocate AHM Shafiquzzaman called for year-round rigorous monitoring and harsh penalties for unjustified hikes, decrying societal “moral decay.”
The two womenโs fall is more than an accidentโit symbolises a nation still waiting for tangible relief. As queues lengthen and photos shock, the BNP government faces urgent demands to deliver on promises while confronting a legacy in which it played a central role. For millions, the question remains: when will everyday survival stop feeling like a daily battle?
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